Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday's Rides + Laying Daisy n Shasta Down!

Tuesday: I took Rachel along to ride and she rode Speedy and since I wanted to ride my own horse but Shasta I wanted our next time to be a training session I decided to use Daisy. She needed a nice relaxing ride anyway due to the last two times being training sessions ;) Daisy did really well. I was so pleased. She only trotted a couple times in the beginning and I did what I did when working on it in the meadow and she listened for the rest of the time. I was so happy!! Rachel enjoyed herself as well. I was cleaning up the piles in the girls paddock (both girls are together now) and Rachel rode Speedy around the main ring bareback. She is a daring little girl ;) Overall it was an awesome evening!

Wednesday: We took six horses to the farrier (Sharon, my cousin Chris and I). I rode Curly and ponied Sundance, Sharon rode Bean and ponied Speedy, and Chris rode Beauty and ponied Misty! So we spent the morning there and afterwards I went to work!

Friday: This evening when I got to Sharon she was getting ready for a group of riders. Riley wanted to ride but since his horse Rickie is now at his place and Lightning was lame there weren't enough of horses for him to ride so I told him he could ride Shasta since I wanted to work with Daisy! After they left I was thinking about this video I had seen of laying down horses without putting to much stress on them and that it didn't take long. I had thought of this all week long and thought you know what I am going to try it on Daisy. The last time we tried it it didn't go well at all. Well this time I layed her down in less than 5 minutes and she didn't fight at all!! I was so surprised..I really praised her for doing well though. She even layed flat out without me asking her to. Then I went and sat beside her and she layed her head on my lap...I just couldn't believe it!!!! She layed there for quite a while. I saw that the one foal was out so I got up to get him and when I got back Daisy was up ;) I took her outside and layed her down again and praised her again. Then she got up and I let her eat grass and have the evening off as her reward. When the riders came back I decided to try to lay Shasta down! She layed down really well too and I praised her and loved on her too. She got to have the evening off as well. She actually stayed down for a while after I layed her down and then I layed her down again and praised her then put her away. I got pics of both girls laying down and I plan to put them up here either tomorrow or Sunday!! I am so proud of my girls and the fact that I got them to lay down. Shasta had been taught it by the previous owner but as far as I know this was only the 4th time Daisy was layed down and the last two times I didn't like the way we did it. This time I did it on my own and I like this way better!!
Tomorrow I got to Blue Marsh but I am riding Speedy due to both my girls being so pregnant!! I am really looking forward to it!! Hope you all have an awesome weekend!!

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday's Rides!!

Pictures I took on Tuesday!

Tuesday: Sharon wasn't feeling well and Sarah (my cousin) and I did our own stuff. She wanted to work with Misha (her two year old colt) and I wanted to work with my girls. So I saddled up Daisy in her western saddle (which I haven't done in who knows how long) and rode her around the house a bit in the snaffle bit. Then I took her in the meadow. My goal was to work on her not to trot unless asked to. She is awesome as far as being in front of my leg and all but she can be TOO much so sometimes. I wanted her to walk nicely for a nice distance without trotting unless I asked her to do so. She wanted to trot so one thing I did was as soon as she broke into a trot I just made her canter a bit then turned her sharply. We also worked on stopping a bit to. The one time I asked her to stop and she decided to just run thru my hands and since we were almost at the end of the fence line I just let the fence stop her. Her brakes came on quite well then. I thought it was quite funny. I worked her for about 45 minutes. She did awesome because by the end I asked her to walk nicely then stop at a certain point and she did exactly what I wanted. She can be so stubborn sometimes...she wouldn't be her without that though..LOL. I hosed Daisy off and then put her away. I didn't really do anything with Shasta all except love on her a bit!!

Wednesday: I rode over to the farrier with Andrea (she owns Sweet Pea, Flicka and Acorn). She needed to take Sweet Pea and Flicka so I rode Misty and went along with her. It was quite fun and relaxing. When I got back my cousin MaryRose wasn't at Sharon's yet but by the time I put Misty away she got there. We went for a quick spin up around Fairmount Homes and came back. I rode Shasta in the bitless bridle...that didn't go to well.  She did ok with it but I think she just plain does better with a snaffle or something like that. When we got back I hosed her off and put her away and loved on Daisy a bit!

Friday: Sharon still wasn't feeling well so I was at Sharon's by myself the whole evening which didn't bother me in the least. First I helped Josh (one of my other cousins) hose off the horses he had used for a ride that Sharon had come because he needed to leave. So when I was done with hosing them off I went and got ready to ride Shasta. She seemed to walk funny when I was leading her out to the meadow to ride her and then when I got on and walked a bit she just seemed all the more off so I called Sharon and asked her what she thought might be up (she was in the house). She said Shasta had stepped on herself and likely bruised herself so I looked where Sharon said she had and yup sure enough she had a sore there. So I don't know when I will get to ride her again..probably this week..we shall see. So since I didn't get to work with her I figured I will get Daisy out and see how she does after her work session on Tuesday. Before I got Daisy out though I gave Shasta a nice good bath. She looked SOOOO BEAUTIFUL afterwards. So as Shasta was drying I got Daisy out and put the stirrups on her and we went to work in the meadow.

Now remember how forward she was on Tuesday? Well that flew out the window or something because she usually wants to go right away and all but she was totally fine with walking. I was impressed. Then I set up the pole bending poles Sharon has in the meadow and I got Daisy to walk thru them. She was like this is easy and very boring. We did that two or three times. I was like ok you think this is boring lets try trotting thru them. I didn't even have to direct her at all she just went thru them like she had been doing it every day of her life. It was so funny. I praised her for doing so well. We also worked on stopping and she did the best she has done in a while. I was so pleased with her! She can sure do really well when she wants too!! HEHE! Gotta love them. I put her stuff away and gave her a good bath as well. While Daisy was drying I took some pics of Shasta then put her away. I let Daisy eat grass as she dried then I went in and was talking to Sharon till Daisy dried. When she dried I put her away and headed home! It was a good day with my girls!!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday!!

Sunday: Rose Mary and I went to Sharon this afternoon. She rode Sundance and I rode Shasta. Shasta did really well but she kept wanting to speed up so I got her to canter and we cantered up in front of Rose Mary then turned around and cantered some surpentines and circles. Then I asked her to walk and she walked nicely. It was so funny how making her move her feet slowed her down ;) Overall it was a lot of fun to ride with Rose Mary again!!


Monday I rode Curly over to the stables :) He did quite well. Gotta love that horse!!

Tuesday: I didn't feel well at all this evening so I didn't ride. I just loved on both girls and hung out with my cousins and Sharon, then went to bed.

Wednesday: I didn't go to work (at my aunt's) at all due to not feeling well (We don't work at Vicky (stables) anymore so I don't have to worry about that anymore) so Sharon, Josh (my cousin) and I took Curly and did some errands. When we got back we ate some lunch and I took a nap. After my nap I took a group of riders for Sharon and I rode Bean. Then after I got back with that group I took another group. When I was done with those groups I unsaddled Daisy (we used her on the group rides...I didn't mind since I got to ride Bean..he is awesome) and gave her a good bath with soap. It was so nice and warm (in the 70's). She really liked her bath and she smelled so good. My cousin Josh had ridden Shata (she did really good for him) and so I gave her a bath too. :) Now both girls had a bath on the same day. I put both girls away and then we went and got another boarder's horse!! <3 Then when we got home I went to bed!

Thursday: Today I didn't feel well either so I didn't go to work (my aunt didn't want my flu at her house which I didn't blame her especially with the small children) so I rested till 12 then I slept till 1:30 :) Sharon had another group of riders coming this afternoon so I went along on that ride and I rode Curly. Riley (he owns Ricki) rode Shasta and she did really good for him. And a girl rode Daisy..she is so funny. One thing about her being used for rides is that she gets work and extra work like that is good for her although I am cutting down on work now that she is getting close to her due date!! Same with Shasta! When we got back from the ride I came home! Tomorrow I plan to go and ride again!! We shall see!

Check these pretty pics out: http://blog.shelleypaulson.com/?p=7297&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sppblog+%28Shelley+Paulson+Photography+Blog%29

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday's Rides!

Monday: I rode Curly on Monday. I am cutting back both my girl's work and amd still riding/working with them just not riding quite as much! :) He did really well! I don't really know why I like him as much as I do but I just do ;) I didn't go to Sharon's Tuesday due to Rose Mary's birthday being Wednesday (since I work Wednesday's I am not home) so we did her birthday stuff Tuesday ;)

Wednesday: We were going to ride to the stables in the morning but then to Curly being a brat we worked with him and just drove to the stables in my vehicle. Then when we got back (we got done there in good time) we went for a ride and I rode Curly. He did good for me. After we got back then we ate some lunch then we went for another quick ride and this time I rode Shasta. She did really good. I just love that horse especially since I see how far I came with her. I came really far with both my girls but Shasta I see such an improvement in..I can in Daisy too but I am just super impressed with Shasta!! Then when we got back I headed off to work for my aunt.

Thursday: I never go to ride Thursday (well not usually..I do stop in sometimes and just hug my girls and say hi to them but not ride) but it was VERY NICE out and I got off from work early. I figured instead of going home early I am just going to hang out with my girls. First I groomed Daisy and we had a little training session in that. Both girls know how to stand still when being groomed without being tied. Well Daisy figured she didn't have to so whenever she started moving away and not standing still I made her move her feet (in this case backwards). I backed her up and said WHOA. She stood good while I groomed her with the one brush and when I was ready for the next one she got tested. I walked away but before I went I told her WHOA and stay. She stayed but she thought she could walk forward a bit so I said WHOA and moved her back to where she was. Then when I got my next brush Daisy stood perfectly well. I was so happy with her. :)
Once I was totally done with Daisy I hugged her and put her away and got Shasta out. I brushed her too then I got on her and rode her around the house. Since she (Shasta) has so much go sometimes she doesn't want to walk so we worked on that. The jumps were set up in the driveway we went over them. She did good with that and she did settle down and walk nicely for me in the end.
After that I got Curly out and layed him down then got on him :) Sharon set up the jumps again (we had knocked them down with Shasta :D) and I took him over the jumps. He did really good. I was really impressed with him. Not sure how high they were but I think the one was about a foot off the ground and then we had done two foot. He has been jumped before somewhat but never really worked on it. It was fun jumping him (and I did it bareback which made it better). Once he cleared the jump when it was at 2 feet (at least I think that is how high it was..I need to measure it) without knocking it down we quit. I love that horse..haha!

Friday: I got off of work decently early so MaryRose, Sharon, Josh and I went for a ride and I rode Shasta. She was really hyper and I think it was partially because it was windy and also too because it was because I have her on grain. She did really good though and we had a lot of fun!! When we got back I brushed her then I watched Sarah do groundwork with Misha (two year old colt she bought from Sharon) and I gave her some tips on that and such. Then I did some free lunging with Daisy...she does so awesome..I love how she responds so well to my body language and she just knows what I want her to do..I love that about her. Shasta needs more explaining than Daisy but I love her for that too because it makes me THINK more how I actually tell the horses to do things...makes me more aware of my body language too. I love how horses correct you and make YOU better but the thing is WE have to allow them to then! :) Anyway have an awesome weekend and I hope you are enjoying the spring weather...also longer evenings!! <3 (if you have nice weather that is)!

Monday, Tuesday and Friday's Ride!!

First off before I write about my week I want you all to check out this awesome site I found. It is a photography site and she takes awesome pics. Here is the link of one of her posts that I like (1 of 4): http://blog.shelleypaulson.com/?p=7078 and here is the link to her blog: http://blog.shelleypaulson.com/. Enjoy!!

Ok now to my week (sorry I skipped a week. I didn't even write about my week due to being at youth retreat. I did ride Monday to the stables..not sure about Tuesday but I did ride Wednesday (Curly) and Thursday (I worked Daisy in the english saddle around the house in a snaffle bit..she did good with that..then I rode Curly on a ride). I didn't ride Friday due to going to youth retreat which was SO AWESOME!! I came back from that refreshed. Sorry I missed a week..hehe!!)..haha now I am really back to this week :D :D

Monday: I rode Daisy over to the stables bareback. I haven't done that for a while and I wanted to just for the fun of it ;) She did ok but on the way home she was being a bit of a brat. I do realize that her being pregnant and all makes a difference but that doens't excuse her brattiness. We worked thru it. I was aloud to stay at Sharon for some of the afternoon so because Sharon forgot about a group we quickly hung some gates and then I took Shasta on the ride. She did really well for not being used for a while (I am thinking I had used her to go to the stables the week before). I really am proud of Shasta...she is turning into one awesome horse! Then I had chorus practice in the evening.

Tuesday: I worked with both girls on groundwork. I had written out a list of goals and things I know each horse needs work on. Such as Daisy she needs some work on her WHOAing and Shasta needs more work on the ground. So that is what they got. I lunged both horses (they both did awesomely...they both followed me too) and then I just did backing and got them to move their feet around. I then got both Shasta and Daisy to stand without being tied as I groomed them. Daisy this was no big deal but for Shasta she had never done this and so it was a great accomplishment :) She stood perfectly for me! I was so pleased with both horses!! Shasta is so awesome because the more groundwork I do with her the better she gets and the more she trusts me!!

Friday: This evening I got Daisy out and we did some lunging outside (we usually do it in the main ring/roundpen). She did good :) So since she did so well I figured lets do some other stuff. She follows me anyway so I thought hey lets see what all we can do with this. So I got her to follow me nicely and we did surpentines, circles and all kinds of things like that. I even got her to trot then slow down with body language and voice commands. I was so impressed. I am glad we are progressing so well. I feel my bond with Daisy gets stronger the more I work with her!! I then did pretty much the exact same thing with Shasta with a few variations. She did good as well although she was a bit pushy..more than usual. I love both my horses and their differences. Daisy can be such a kiss up ( guess that is the word I want) because she knows I will make her work she thinks that loving on me and doing the things that I like my horses to do will make so she doesn't have to work. She has the funniest expressions sometimes too :D I had gotten treats out after she did so well and she was like "SHE HAS TREATS" and since I didn't give her one right away she just had this begging look to her..LOL. Well then she was ignoring me and I gave her a treat and she was like "TOLD YOU SHE HAS TREATS". Then when I took Daisy back to Shasta I gave Shasta a treat and Daisy was like "where's my treat" :) Overall it was an awesome evening..I so enjoy hanging out with my girls and having fun with them!! They are the best!!

Here is a picture of some trees :)